If you were one of the 88 members who attended this month’s Easter themed General Assembly, you will know that we continue to be very fortunate with our speakers.
Steve Burgess from Age in Spain told us the history of the organisation and described the work they do. You will find a full report elsewhere in this newsletter. Two of his key messages were not to be afraid to ask for help and not to leave the big decisions too late. Asking for help need not mean giving up your precious independence. Often the opposite is true: getting the right help allows people to remain independent for longer. Many of the most difficult cases they see could have been avoided with just a little forward planning.
It was very clear that Age in Spain’s values are fully aligned with our own. Indeed, Steve told me after his presentation that he and his colleagues enjoy working with u3a associations precisely because they encounter none of the fear of competition that they find with some other charities and voluntary organisations. On this basis we agreed to continue to publicise each other’s activities wherever appropriate.
More generally we are entering one of the busiest times of our year, with a wide range of exciting trips and events to look forward to in the coming weeks, arranged by our fabulous Travel & Entertainment and Goodwill teams. I cannot say often enough how grateful I am to everyone who
helps to plan and manage these activities on our behalf. Observing from behind the scenes I can see just how much work is involved ahead of each event and on the actual day.
One good example is our May General Assembly, which falls on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Our committee members and many others have been working for weeks to deliver an event which will not only recognise the importance of the day but also incorporate some fun activities and suitable refreshments. After a number of GAs where we have seen attendance in the high 80s or low 90s perhaps this will be the day when we break through the 100 barrier!
With best wishes to you all.
Chris